Electro-optical simulator system

ABSTRACT

In an aircraft simulator training device an assembly of computer controlled movable lens and television camera-anddisplay combinations is arranged to simulate the effects of yaw, pitch, roll, and changes in azimuth and range.

llElLiEUlIltO- OWICAL Slli/illlhllflltlltlll liil'fililiil ri BACKGROUND OF THE lNVENTlON The invention is in the field of aircraft training, devices, particularly the type which simulates the sensations of flying on aircraft, in part by providing a replica of the cocltpit of an aircraft and displaying a changing scene to a trainee in the pilots position. Various eupedients have been tried in the past to i operate a replica or simulated aircraft in such manner that a trainee pilot would experience the sensations of flight, particularly the visual stimuli, of real life flying. Prior art trainers have not been completely successful because of a lack of realism in the training effect and excessive complexity of structure.

The present invention solves the problems of the prior art by employing novel servo-controlled optical and television means to simulate aircraft motion and position changes in a realistic manner.

SUMMARY OF THE llN't lEhl'fllOhl The invention comprises an electro-optical pickup system for an aircraft simulator training device which provides a wide angle simulation of the view seen by an aircraft pilot who may, for example, be simulating an approach to an aircraft carrier or landing field. A replica of the cockpit of an aircraft is pro-- vided with a television display on which a trainee pilot may see a seascape including an aircraft carrier which the aircraft appears to approach. Aircraft movements such as pitch, roll, and yaw are simulated in part by using computer controlled servos to position a pitch entrance prism, an azimuth assembly and a dove prism in the optical system associated with a viclicon to change the view of the seascape on the TV (television) display in a manner similar to that caused by aircraft movements. Changes in apparent range are effected by computer controlled servo operation of zoom lens elements and switch means for interposing an auxiliary television camera-and-display assembly into the TV display circuit.

QRIEF DESCRIPTlOll UF 'll-lllE lUlPtr tl i/li lGli FlG. i shows the principal elements ofthe invention. H6. 3. shows optical elements of the invention.

DESCRlPTlON OF THE PREFERRED EMBODlMEN'l" FIG. l shows a simplified block diagram of an aircraft simulator training device of which the invention is a part. A model '.l of an aircraft carrier can be rotated by servo means in a ship model control unit 4. An optical pickup 45 which includes a zoom lens assembly directs an image of ship model 2 to a vidicon b which forwards video information through a switch i l to a display lltll, shown for the purpose of illustration a single cathode-ray tube. Display ill) is located in a replica ofan aircraft 3 complete with seat and controls for a trainee pilot who observes the image of ship model 2 against a seascape, generated by apparatus not shown, on display ill). Display tilt is located in the windshield position in an actual aircraft. The switch M can connect the output of vidicon b to a display in instead of display it). The image on display to can be picked up by a vidicon lliil through a second zoom assembly 2t) and forwarded to display it).

in practice a student pilot seated in aircraft replica 3 observes carrier 2 in a Seascape environment on display it) and operates aircraft controls to simulate a landing approach to the carrier. Part of the cfiect of being in an actual aircraft approaching a carrier is obtained by decreasing the apparent range from aircraft to carrier through control of the optical pickup ti, switch lid, and zoom lens assembly Ell. All olthe elements of the invention are controlled by a computer lid as indicated by the connections shown.

Changes in the apparent distance between aircraft and carrier at close ranges are accomplished by moving optical picltup s with respect to carrier 2. This is done by means of a servo operated gantry 5 supporting the optical picltup. Range changes greater than the capability of the gentry system and up to -l,li0ll feet are made by controlling the room lens as sembly of the optical pickup. itange changes between M500 that and 36.0% feet are made by controlling the room lens ussetnbly Sill, witch li t, and vidicon id to furnish the video signal to display to.

The optical piuiiup of ll shown in detail in l l lll. An entrance pitch prism mounted in a bearing Elli piclia op the image of aircraft carrier model 2. Prism can be rotated between +6.? and to simulate pitch in the aircraft replica it transmits the oh" by EU field of ohjcctive lens Bill. Ubjec tivc lens is a talc-centric type made of a plurality of elements. A right angle prism El i turns the optical aitis 90 paral lel but displaced from the azimuth or rotational axis about which the pitch prism .lltl is rotated. An aspheric corroctor field lens Elf comprising the two elements shown compensates for the negative geometrical magnification of the wide angle objective. Magnification is increased as the angle of the optical axis increases to present a rectilinear image of a rectilinear object. Two path folding mirrors ."lil direct the lower optical path baclt to the center of rotation of the pitch prism. It lower projection lens d ll is focused on the primary image at the aspheric correctors and collimates the rays entering a dove prism M. The elements of the optical picltup enumerated heretofore are all mounted in a servo-operated azimuth-yaw bearing dd. they can be rotated in bearing d l to simulate changes in azimuth and yaw of the aircraft. T he dove prism ill is mounted in a bearing do and can be servo driven to simulate aircraft roll. A movement is also imparted to the dove prism l2 automatically by computer B2 to compensate for unwanted image rotation which arises when the preceding elements are operated to simulate pitch and azimuth-yaw movements. on upper projection lens till partially converges the collimatcd light from dive prism ill onto the elements of a zoom lens arsembly 512. An iris diaphragm hit is mechanically geared to room lens Sill to compensate for image brightness changes which occur with changes in the equivalent focal length of the room lens. This prevents excessive illumination of the face of the vidicon at maximum simulated It solenoid operated shutter so is provided to prevent vidicon image burn-in during readiness standby periods.

in operation, ship model It controlled by ship model corn trol l which receives commands from computer ill to simulate the movements of a ship at The effects of heave, pitch, roll, forward speed, etc, may be simulated in ship model fl. well as aircraft Computer l2 also controls gantry opti piclrup ti, zoom lens system ill], and other components ir well-known manner so that the effects of wind, ship speed, a craft speed, aircraft controls, etc, combine to give a train pilot loolting at display in a realistic impression of being in actual aircraft making a landing approach on an aircraft carrier. Several known computers can be arranged to perform the control functions required of computer l2. One suitable computcr is the SEL Model 840A which is available from Engineering Laboratories, of Fort Lauderdale, Ha. These devices are not part of this invention. The subject invention comprises the combination of the optical pickup and corn lens together with the combination of television displa s and vidicons cooperating with mechanical moving means such as gantry .5 to simulate landing approaches at greater ranges with greater realism than is attainable with prior art simulators.

The arrangement of entrance pitch prism 3b which can be rotated by computer controlled servo means (not shown) to simulate pitch of the aircraft 3, together with the arrangement of azimutinyaw bearing dd which permits the rotation of all of the optical elements Sid-db by computer controlied servo means, make the effects of pitch, yaw, and changes in azimuth in aircraft 3 more precise, effective, and economical of apparatus than the arrangements found in prior art simulators. The effectiveness of the entrance pitch prism Elli and azimuthyaw bearing on is made possible by the inclusion in the com bination ofthe dove prism d2 which is rotated in bearing an by computer controlled servos to automatically compensate for the undesired image rotation which arises from the pitch and aximuth-yaw movement of entrance pitch prism 3d and azimuth-yaw bearing M. An additional independent rotation of dove prism 42 is effected by computer controlled servo means to simulate roll in aircraft 3.

The unique combination of gantry 5 with the zoom lens 52 in optical pickup ti and the zoom lens make the extensive range simulation of the system possible. To simulate the effect of aircraft 3 maneuvering near carrier 2, that is, at a distance of up to 1,800 feet, apparent changes in the aircraft range, altitude, and azimuth with respect to carrier 2 are effected by movement in the X, Y, and 2 directions of optical picltup 6 and vidicon 8 which are mounted on and moved by gantry $5. This movement is effected by computer controlled servo means not shown. To simulate changes in distance between aircraft and carrier at extended ranges, computer controlled servos may operate the zoom lens 52 in optical pickup 6 to simulate ranges between the limits of the gantry travel and up to approximately 4,500 feet. When ranges between approximately 4,500 and 3,000 feet are simulated, the zoom lens 2th is controlled to adjust the range. Simultaneously switch M is actuated by a signal from computer 12 to connect display 16, zoom lens 20, and vidicon it} into the video circuit to display it). in this mode of operation the video information from vidicon which is affected by the adjustment of zoom lens 52 is displayed on display 16. The information displayed on i6 is picked up by vidicon i8 through zoom lens 20 and presented on display 10. The combined effects of the electro-optical system comprising the zoom lens 52 and 20, displays to and H0, and vidicons t3 and 18 thus make it possible to simulate changes in range of far greater magnitude than attainable by prior art electronic or optical range adjusting systems. The changes in range and the effects of pitch, roll, and changes in azimuth are simulated with greater realism and with far less equipment than in prior art devices.

What is claimed is:

B. in an aircraft simulator training device wherein an image is presented on a television display, the improvement comprismg:

a first display;

a first vidicon arranged to transmit an image to said first optical elements comprising an entrance pitch prism rotatably mounted in a first bearing, an objective lens, a path folding prism, an aspheric lens, a first path folding mirror, a second path folding mirror, a lower projection lens, a first zoom lens system, said optical elements being rotatably mounted in a second bearing, and arranged in an optical path to transmit an image from said entrance pitch prism to said first vidicon;

control means for controlling rotation of said rotatabiy mounted optical elements in said optical path to simulate pitch, change in azimuth, and yaw, in said image;

a dove prism in said optical path rotatably mounted in a third bearing, means whereby said control means control rotation of said dove prism to simulate roll in said image; and

means whereby said control means control rotation of said dove prism to eliminate undesired rotation of said image caused by operation of said rotatably mounted optical elements in said optical path to simulate pitch, change in azimuth, and yaw, in said image.

2. The apparatus of claim 11, and including a second display,

a second zoom lens system, a second vidicon, and switch means whereby said image can be ulectively transmitted from said first vidicon to said first display via said second display, said second zoom lens system, and said second vidicon, or directly from said first vidicon to said first display. 

1. In an aircraft simulator training device wherein an image is presented on a television display, the improvement comprising: a first display; a first vidicon arranged to transmit an image to said first display; optical elements comprising an entrance pitch prism rotatably mounted in a first bearing, an objective lens, a path folding prism, an aspheric lens, a first path folding mirror, a second path folding mirror, a lower projection lens, a first zoom lens system, said optical elements being rotatably mounted in a second bearing, and arranged in an optical path to transmit an image from said entrance pitCh prism to said first vidicon; control means for controlling rotation of said rotatably mounted optical elements in said optical path to simulate pitch, change in azimuth, and yaw, in said image; a dove prism in said optical path rotatably mounted in a third bearing, means whereby said control means control rotation of said dove prism to simulate roll in said image; and means whereby said control means control rotation of said dove prism to eliminate undesired rotation of said image caused by operation of said rotatably mounted optical elements in said optical path to simulate pitch, change in azimuth, and yaw, in said image.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, and including a second display, a second zoom lens system, a second vidicon, and switch means whereby said image can be selectively transmitted from said first vidicon to said first display via said second display, said second zoom lens system, and said second vidicon, or directly from said first vidicon to said first display. 